Tractor carried log splitters



May 16, 1967 M. J. BLES, SR

TRACTOR CARRIED LOG SPLITTERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23, 1965 m4 M2 5 INVENTOR- .sae,

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May 16, 1967 M. J. BLESS, SR

TRACTOR CARRIED LOG SPLITTEHS 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 23, 1965 INVENTOR. wzecwa a 52 65; .se,

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TRACTOR CARRIED LOG SPLITTERS Filed April 23, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Zf A Z3 0 o k LVl/l/l VII/ll!!! III/[1%]; I] Ill/IIIl/A FIG. .10.

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INVENTOR. 444200? a 54 as sex United States Patent Ofifice 3,319,675 Patented May 16, 1967 3,319,675 TRACTOR CARRHED LOG SPLI'I'IERS lVIarcus J. Eles, Sta, RED. 2, McLean, Va. 22101 Filed Apr. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 450,289 12 Claims. (Cl. 144-193) This invention relates to tractor carried hydraulically operated log splitters.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of simpler, more eflicient, and more practical devices of the character indicated, which are adapted to be supported on conventional tractors, from the implement suspensions of the tractors, at desired elevations and angles, relative to the ground, the devices having in cooperative relationship longitudinally spaced stationary log abutments, and movable log-splitting components, movable towards and away from the stationary abutments, the movable components being operated by means of hydraulic cylinders, supplied with fluid under pressure and controlled from the tractors.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in devices of the character indicated above, of two-way movable log-splitting components, which have similar log splitting wedge portions, and sharpened .log splitting blade portions, on opposite ends thereof, so that splitting of logs can be done on both forward and rearward operations of the movable components. 7

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is the front perspective view of a device of the present invention, showing its movable log-splitting component in forward, retracted position;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical transverse section, taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 2, showing in phantom lines, a log supported thereon;

FIGURE 4 is a rear perspective view, showing said device installed on a tractor, with the movable log-splitting component in an intermediate position;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of said movable component, per se;

FIGURE 6 is a. top plan view of another device of the invention, showing a stationary log abutment thereof in adjusted position;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section, taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a front end elevation of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the movable logsplitting component, per se; and,

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front end elevation of the tubularsupport for the movable components of FIG- URE 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and first to FIG- URES 1 through 5 thereof, a conventional tractor T is shown, having, at its rear end, a rearwardly extending upper compression link 12, and lower tension links 14, from which a log-splitting device 16 is supported in a generally horizontal, rearwardly extending position. Also mounted at the rear of the tractor T is a hydraulic fluid control assembly 18, having a control and reversing lever 20, and rearwardly extending flexible hydraulic lines 22 and 24.

The log-splitting device 16 comprises an elongated horizontal log-centering trough 26, which can be made up, as shown in FIGURE 3, of two similar inwardly declining flanges 28, fixed at their inner edges to upper parts of the side walls 30, of a tubular rectangular slideway 32, the upper surfaces of the flanges 28 preferably being flush with the upper surface of the top wall 34 of the slideway. The topwall 34 of the slideway is formed with a centered longitudinal slot 36, extending to the ends thereof.

Inverted angle irons combined stiffening and mounting bars 38 are fixed to the undersides of the trough flanges 28, and extend forwardly therefrom, as indicated at 40, and are provided with fixed laterally outwardly extending pintles 42, on which are adapted to be journalled, and secured, as indicated at 44, the forward ends of the trailer tension links 14.

A front log abutment 46 is fixed upon the trough 26, at its forward end, and comprises a perpendicular transverse central plate portion 48 having forwardly and outwardly angled loguiding wings 50, on its ends. The wings 50 are transversed, at their upper ends, adjacent tot the front side of the central plate portion 48, by fixed, transversely aligned bearing sleeves 52, whose inner ends are spaced from each other. A shaft 54 extends rotatably through the sleeves 52, and has a head 56, on one end thereof, engageable with the outer end of one of the sleeves, and a cotter pin 58, on its other end, engaged with the outer end of the other sleeve. The tractor compression link 12 is journalled, at its rear end, on the shaft 54, between the sleeves 52. This arrangement mounts the device 16, on the tractor T, in adjusted positions of elevation and angle relative to the ground.

A fixed rear log abutment 56, similar in shape to the front abutment .6, but shorter in height, is similarly fixed upon the trough 26, at the rear end thereof.

The slideway 32 comprises, besides the mentioned top wall 34, perpendicular side walls 30, a horizontal bottom Wall 62. A tubular rectangular cross section slide 64, shorter than the slideway 32, is slidably engaged therein, and is formed, on its bottom wall 66, with a centered longitudinal slot 68, to provide clearance for a hydraulic line, as hereinafter set forth.

Fixed centrally upon the top wall 78 of the slide 64, at a location adjacent to the forward end thereof, is a dual purpose, reversible action log-splitting blade 72, which works in the slot 36 in the top wall of the slideway 32. The blade 72 comprises a flat vertically elongated platelike form, having a longitudinally elongated lower portion 74, having bevelled, sharpened front and rear logwedging ends 70, 72; and a narrower, centered vertically elongated portion 80, having parallel, bevelled front and rear log-splitting edges 82, 84. The ends 76, 78 of the lower blade portion 74, serve, at different times, to engage the end of a log L, disposed in the trough 26. The central portion 48 of the front log abutment 46 is formed with a vertically elongated slot 86, through which the blade 72 works. I

A two-way hydraulic cylinder 88, having an overall length substantially that of the slide 64, is jonrnalled, at its forward end, on a fixed pin 90, extending between the side walls of the slide 64. The piston rod 92 of the cylinder is journalled, at its rear end, on a fixed pin 94, which extends between the side Walls of the slide, at the rear end of the latter. A first hydraulic line 24, leading from the tractor control assembly 18, is connected, as shown at 98, in FIGURE 2, to the front end of the cylinder 88, and a second hydraulic line 26, leads rearwardly beneath the slideway 32, passes upwardly through an opening 102, provided in the slideway 32, and through the slot 68 of the slide 64, and is connected, as indicated at 104, to the rear end of the cylinder 88, behind the piston 106, on the piston rod 92.

A V-shaped cleaner blade or scraper 108 is fixed to the underside of the top wall 76 of the slide 64, which works between conformably angled flanges 189, fixed to the top of the hydraulic cylinder 88, and has a concave lower edge 110, which conformably engages the top of the hydraulic cylinder 88, and serves to clear log chips and debris, which may accumulate on the cylinder.

In use and operation, a log L having been placed endwise in the trough 26, between the abutments 44, 56, with duced by the cutting action of the rear edge 84 of t re upper blade portion, in line with the wedging action. The wedging and cutting actions of the blade 72, continue, substantially as far as the rear abutment 56, so that the log L is split along its vertical centerline.

As the blade 72 attains its rearrnost position, the control lever 20 of the tractors hydraulic control assembly 18 is positioned so that the movement of the blade is halted. The log halves, produced, as described above, can then be positioned, in the trough 26, at 90 to the original position of the log, and the blade 72 operated forwardly, so as to split the halves into quarters. The blade action and the repositionings of the log sections can be repeated, so as to split the same into eighths.

The modified device 16' shown in FIGURES 6 to 10, is designed to be lighter in weight and more economical to produce. The device 16' is substantially similar to the de-' vice 16, of FIGURES l to 5, except that its slideway 3 2 and its slide 64, are cylindrical, rather than of rectangular tubular cross-section, and the rear log abutment 56' is adjustable along the trough 26.

The rear log abutment56 has a rearwardly extending lateral flange 112, along its lower edge, which conforms in shape to the top of the slideway 32 and the trough flanges 28', and is traversed by end bolts 114, and by middle bolts 116, which extend through selected ones of the end and middle rows of bolt holes 118 and 120, provided in the flanges 28'.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tractor having upper and lower movable link means extending rearwardly therefrom and a hydraulic control assembly having first and second hydraulic lines extending rearwardly therefrom, a log centering trough supportably secured, at its forward end, to

' said links, a log splitting blade mounted on and extending above the trough to move along the trough in opposite directions, a two-way hydraulic cylinder connected at pposite ends thereof to said hydraulic lines, upstanding stationary longitudinally spaced front and rear log abutments mounted on the trough, said hydraulic cylinder being secured at opposite ends to the blade and to the trough.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said front log abutment is formed with a vertical slot through which said blade can pass.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said front log abutment is formed with a vertical slot through which 'central portion, the wings of the two said blade can pass, said trough comprising a longitudinal tubular slideway, upwardly divergent log-centering flanges fixed to opposite sides of the slideway, a tubular slide working in the slideway and carrying said blade, one end of the hydraulic cylinder being operatively connected to the slideway.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said front log abutment is formed with a vertical slot through which said blade can pass, said blade having front and rear log-splitting edges.

5. A log splitter comprising a log-centering, trough, a fixed longitudinal slideway underlying the trough, upstanding longitudinally spaced front and rear log abutments fixed upon the trough, said slideway being formed in its top with a centered longitudinal slot, a tubular slide sliding within said slideway, an upstanding two-way log splitting blade fixed on the slide and extending above the slideway through said slot, a two-way hydraulic cylinder disposed longitudinally within the slide and having one end thereof secured to the slideway and its other end secured to the slide, and means for extending and contracting said cylinder. v

6. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein said front log abutment is formed with a vertical slot through which said blade can pass.

7. A lo'g splitter according to claim 5, wherein said log abutments have flat transverse vertical central portions and outwardly angled lug-guiding wings on the ends of the abutments being oppositely angled.

8. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein the slideway and'the slide are of rectangular cross-section.

9. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein said slideway and said slide are of cylindrical cross-section.

10. A log splitter according to clairn'S, wherein said hydraulic cylinder is formed with upwardly divergent flanges, and the slide is formed with a downwardly extending V-shaped scraper engaged between the divergent flanges, said scraper having a lower edge conforming in shape withan engager with the top of the hydraulic cylinder.

11. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein said log abutments are permanently fixed upon the trough.

12. A log splitter according to claim 5, wherein the rear log abutment is formed with a lateral flange on its lower end, said lateral flange bearing upon the trough, the trough and said vertical flange being traversed by bolts, the trough being formed with longitudinal rows of adjustment holes, through which the bolts are selectively engageable.

No references cited.

DONALD R. SCHRAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A TRACTOR HAVING UPPER AND LOWER MOVABLE LINK MEANS EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM AND A HYDRAULIC CONTROL ASSEMBLY HAVING FIRST AND SECOND HYDRAULIC LINES EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM, A LOG CENTERING TROUGH SUPPORTABLY SECURED, AT ITS FORWARD END, TO SAID LINKS, A LOG SPLITTING BLADE MOUNTED ON AND EXTENDING ABOVE THE TROUGH TO MOVE ALONG THE TROUGH IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS, A TWO-WAY HYDRAULIC CYLINDER CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS THEREOF TO SAID HYDRAULIC LINES, UPSTANDING STA- 